MA American Studies at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Master of Arts program in American studies trains you in interdisciplinary approaches aimed at understanding the American experience in local and global contexts. The array of disciplines spans the arts, humanities and social sciences, and faculty expertise covers a wide variety of ethnographic, historical, literary and media studies as well as interdisciplinary and community-based approaches.

What you will study

30 credit hours and a thesis, or 30 credit hours including the required applied project course (AMS 593) Required Core (3 credit hours) AMS 502 American Studies: Theory and Method (3) Other Requirement (3 credit hours) Methods course (3) Electives or Research (18 or 21 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 or 6 credit hours) AMS 593 Applied Project (3) or AMS 599 Thesis (6) Additional Curriculum Information Students must complete one methods course for the degree, with academic advisor approval; AMS 502 cannot be used to meet this requirement.

Career pathways

American studies graduates are able to bridge a strong theoretical foundation with applied research, making them well-equipped to enter national and international dialogues. Graduates may go on to law school, graduate school or other professional degree programs.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: graduate admission application and application fee official transcripts statement of purpose writing sample curriculum vitae two letters of recommendation proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. This program requires a TOEFL iBT® score of 4.5, or 90 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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